Prologue

"Hmm," I muttered.

I've felt a sharp pain in my temple upon waking up. I surely got hungover from last night's outing. I can't raise my arms to touch it, as if something is hindering them to move. I slowly opened my eyes only to see nothing but darkness. My hands are tied at the back of the chair where I am sitting.

"Oh my God!"

I panicked when I realized what had happened last night. I heard the creaking sound of the door being opened.

"Where am I?"

I didn't hear any answer from the person who just entered the room. I can hear his big strides going in my direction.  

"Where am I?" I shouted aggressively. "Where are my companions?"

"You won't get an answer. You better shut your mouth up." Said the cold tone from the man whom I can sense standing a few meters in front of me now. 

I can feel the tingly feeling on my wrist as I try to move my arms in a quest to free myself from the tight grip of some kind of a knot tying both my arms. My feet are also tied together on the legs of this old creaking chair. I can't see anything because of the blindfold. Thankfully, without my sight, my nose functions pretty well. I started sniffing and a smell of dusty room filled my nostrils. With my strong sense of smell, I can say that the room has rusty objects around. I'm maybe in an old warehouse. I can tell that the man in front of me uses a cheap perfume. I smirked before letting out a deep and long sighed. These people are in trouble. I thought to myself. This may sound insane. Me, tied in a creaking chair thinks that my kidnappers are in trouble. Funny, right? No one in sane condition would believe me. I gritted my teeth before speaking to the man with a hint of warning. The other side of me feels excitement in the anticipation of something I have long been staying away from, for quite some time. Fight and blood. I don't want to let out the monster in me unless needed.

"Let me off here so we won't have any trouble…or better yet, just run for your life."

I heard his little chuckle, not believing what I said. 

"Poor thing," I thought to myself.

I must escape from this place. I must go and save wherever Catherine and Isabel are. I started to relax my muscles. I need this to control my strength. I wouldn't like to scare this man. Yet, surely he'll be scared a little later. I could feel my fingernails start lengthening. I hate to admit that my fingernails turn into sharp claws whenever I transform. I curled my palms upward to reach the rope. The sharp nail of my index finger touches the rope. I playfully moved it until I feel the tie starts to loosen. Now, my hands are free. I carefully moved them to exercise my muscles that have been stiffened for the whole night of being tied. I tried to comfort myself. The man is so dumb to notice the activities behind me.

"Where are my friends?" I asked again.

"..."

There's still no answer. The god damn is freaking me out. He is making me mad. The thing that I don't like to happen. However, he is leaving me no choice. My mouth opened and started to hum a song that I've heard a long time ago. I didn't do it on purpose, though. It just escapes my mouth every time the monster in me gets excited.

"Hmm, hmm, hmm,"

"Stop that. It creeps me." Says the man uneasily. 

"Do you know that song?" I said teasingly.

"That's not from any famous singer I know." He smirked.

"Well, you are right." I returned an amused laugh.

"Do you want me to tell you what that song is all about?" One side of my lips twitched and formed a visible curve.

"..."

He didn't answer. I could sense that he is getting pissed off. 

"It means death."

I heard his heart thumping. Now I'm impressed with this man because he can already feel the forthcoming danger. Not as dumb as I thought he is a while ago.

He cleared his throat but did not say a single word. I can also sense his little movement.

"I'm finding it boring in here," I said and raised my hands to untie the blindfold.

"H-How did you do that? How were you able to untie your hands!?"

He asked furiously. He took his gun from his side but was taken aback upon noticing my claws and devilish grin.

"Goodness!" He says with his mouth wide open.

I took a few steps towards him making him come back to his senses. He aimed the gun at me but he was already hanging in the air before he could pull the trigger. I clutched his neck with one hand and my claws are almost buried in his flesh. His hands were on my wrist trying to get out of my grip.

"I warned you earlier but you are so hardheaded."

"L-Let me go. Please don't hurt me."

"You left me with no option."

My grip on his neck tightened. He's struggling to flee from me but failed to. Soon after, I feel that he's losing his breath so I throw him to the ground. He looks so weak.

"Run while I can still control myself."

He tries to stand while still hardly huffing for air. He gets on his feet and moves with his unsteady knees, trying to be fast as he can. The cold air of the dawn touches my skin as it blows in the dim surroundings as I follow him closely.

My house is far from the city and it needs a long drive before I arrive at the noisy market of the small town of New land. So, I normally go out for groceries twice a month. I'm into web development and am a freelancer. I work from home using my laptop and the internet. No need to wake up early and rush to the office. Above all, no need to mingle with other people. I see this as an advantage.

I skillfully park my car in the left wing of the roofed parking space of the market. This space is quite impressively wide for such a small town. I shut the engine off and get out of the car. I walk around the market seeing familiar friendly faces and nod at the old man who smiled at me while walking in opposite direction. I head towards a narrow path where rows of meat shops are located.

"Good morning Ms. Brown!" A cheerful voice of a white, middle-aged woman greets me as I enter their small meat shop. She is fat and seems to bounce every time she moves. 

"Good morning Mrs. Amanda," My adorably red, kissable lips curve into a civil but sweet smile.

"What's for today Ms. Brown?" Amanda asks me still on her usual cheerful aura.

"I need 5 kg of chicken, 2 kg of pork and beef." 

The butcher starts chopping the meat. I am feeling a little discomfort with the sound of the knife slamming into the meat and chopping board. I shift my focus to the sound of the crowd outside. I can hear the conversation of the people all around the market, the sound of the vehicles, even the simple scratching of the head. I can hear everything. I watch Amanda while she places the meat in a large plastic bag. She scans the bar code and shows me the bill after. I pick some cash from my wallet and hand it to her.

"Ms. Brown, here's your meat. Thank you and please come again." 

"I would always come back, Mrs. Amanda. See you next time."

I smile and wink at her as I take hold of the plastic bag. I make a quick pace towards the sliding glass door. My feet know where to go next. I stop at the sidewalk vendor and start to take a look at the red tomatoes and other spices. 

"Give me 2 kg each of these," I point to the condiments and vegetables. 

"Anything else Ms.?" The young vendor asks as he neatly places the goods in a plastic bag.

"That's all be fine," I answer and smile at him.

This young man is not familiar to me. As far as I can remember, the owner of this store is an elderly couple. Maybe he is a grandchild of the couple. I simply glance at his palm to gather some information about him. My guess is right.

"Here are your goods. Thank you and come again!"

My next and probably the last destination for today is in the small grocery store of Mr. Hunter. A man of his fifties and one of my kind. Yes, he's no human too. I presume he is also here to escape from our chaotic world. I don't know the real reason why he is here, though. I put some oatmeal and biscuits and other essential stuff into my shopping cart. 

"I think these are all I need," I talk to myself before making my way to Mr. Hunter in the cashier. 

"How're days been going on, Lady Amara?" He speaks to me using his telepathy. Yes, we have this sort of mental link.

"Everything's going well, Hunter," I answer in a flat tone as I slowly take the items out of the cart and place them on the counter. I don't want him calling me that name. That name sounds like a curse to me. So, I intentionally shut our extrasensory connection.

"I heard some more of our kind is coming here." He whispers not wanting to be heard by the other customers.

"How did you know?" I ask looking straight into his green eyes. 

"My nephew just arrived last night. He said he was with fifteen others and more had been here before them." He says in a worried tone. 

"That's making me hate going back there even more." I lazily utter while placing the last item on my cart into the counter.

"This is quite alarming." He's serious while his hands keep on scanning the items and placing them on a brown grocery bag. 

"There's nothing we can do about that Hunter."

I press my lips and give him a sorry look. Hunter stops for a moment and gives me a stern look. He shakes his head in a disgusted manner. 

"I can't believe you are telling me that. You are Lady Amara, Guardian of Lights..."

"Stop that Hunter," I warn him.

I don't want to argue with him. I hate arguments. I hate hearing that name. A moment of silence envelope us. He hands me the groceries and I pay the bill. I carry the grocery bag and head my way out of the store without bidding goodbye. He calls me making me stop by the door with my hand on the handle, ready to open. 

"Ms. Brown!" 

I did not turn my head. My lips are still pressed tightly showing my serious looks as ever. 

"You can't hide forever." He says using our mind link.

I hear him utter a deep sighed and turn his back on me. His swift strides show that he is furious. I continue with my pace going outside the store. There's no way I will go back to the Ehtrehto Edis, the world that I abandoned. It's a world far from what a human mind could imagine. It is in the other dimension and is composed of four main empires; the Ignis Hella, Aqua Edis, Terra Hella, and Aero Edis. A once wonderful, sparkling, and brightly lit up the place until the Aquans showed their greed.

I've been in this human world for almost ten years. I was only thirteen then, when I managed to escape from the Aquan general, Thud. They killed my family and chased after me. My young mind couldn't understand why they would go after me. I was just a petty girl and a daughter of fruit vendors. Our world resembles a human world, only that our royal leaders possess extraordinary powers. I tilt my head to the side trying to forget my thoughts. I don't want to remember that horrible night when I discovered my true nature. Most of all, I don't want to be reminded of the stinking smell of blood. 

I put the groceries and meat in the trunk and reach for the driver's seat. I start the engine and drive away from the busy market. Considering the length of time that I've stayed in this place, I have already built a sense of familiarity with everything on my way home. The different kinds and sizes of trees standing alongside the road, the thick bushes beneath it, the chirping of the birds on treetops, and the silence are no longer new to my senses. I turn left to an unpaved road going home. I live somewhere in the middle of woods, with no neighbors. After twenty kilometers of ride, my car pulls over in front of the old wooden fence. Some of the wood has already fallen to the ground. 

I carry my baggage in both hands and start heading towards the house. I put everything on the table and wash my hands before going to my bedroom to change clothes. Afterward, I head back to the kitchen. I start washing the meat and place them on the refrigerator. I did the same to the vegetables and spices. Lastly, I expertly put the grocery items in my dinky pantry. I don't have a plan of cooking for my lunch. I'll just heat my leftovers from last night's dinner.

This is how simple my life is here in the human world. I am living my life alone. Free.

It's early in the morning. The sun is rising brightly in the eastern mountain, spreading its light in the white puffy clouds.

My hands tightly grip on the handle of the ax as I strike the wood I am chopping. Its breaking sound as the sharp edge of the ax lands on its surface mixes up with the chirping of the birds and crowing of the roosters. I stop, seeing that I have chopped enough firewood for a week. I throw the ax to the side and start to gather the chopped wood. Two meters away from me is the detached kitchen. It's built using bamboo and palm leaves. Beside it is a tall mango tree. That is where I am placing these chopped woods. This place is somewhat hilly and going down while carrying a bundle of woods will be a struggle. But not for me. My strong arms do not feel the weight of woods. That's an advantage of not being human. I am about to finish piling the woods when I hear a loud flapping sound. I tilt my head trying to receive the sound wave from the direction where it comes. As fast as a flash of lightning, I sense a flock of flying birds. It's as though they are agitated. Not only that. Footsteps. I can hear the crackling of the leaves under somebody's feet. The silent footsteps gradually speed up until it's almost a run.  Several noises are coming close. Now, I can tell that the invader is not alone. I go out of the kitchen and start sniffing. They are going in my direction. 

"I can't guess who my visitors are," I say with my usual facial expression.

I hurriedly turn towards my front yard. I can sense them getting closer. Suddenly, the wind blows and a pungent odor travels through my nostrils. Blood. One of the invaders smells bloody, and the other, I sniff intensionally. Gun powder.

"These people must be dangerous."

I don't want to be involved in their trouble. So, I decide to teleport before they see me but I did not go far. I am now standing on the branch of a high, big tree. I watch at them from the top without them noticing me. Goosebumps sprang over my arms as I watch the next thing that happened down. A skinny woman is being dragged by the hair, by one of the men. They look like goons. Another man hit her heavily and repeatedly with violent blows.

"Fuck are these ugly men!"

My conscience is striking deep down inside of me. How could these large men cruelly beat a helpless woman? I ask myself while gritting my teeth and clenching my fist. Heartless! I jump from the tree landing in the far back of them without noise. My fists are tucked into the pockets of my loose denim pants. I clear my throat to attract their attention. They stop beating the poor girl and turn to me. Surprise flashed across their faces. So ugly. I narrow my blue hazel eyes at them signaling a bit of bad luck.

"I'm afraid what you're doing isn't fair. Five huge and strongmen over one skinny woman wouldn't give a good fight." 

"Who are you!?" The man with a chiseled face asks in a harsh tone. He faces me and gives me a 'who are you'll look. His eyes were scanning me up and down.

One man is grabbing the girl's hair while throwing me a stern look. I itch to blow his craggy face.

"Please help me!" Cries the poor girl. She was kneeling on the ground and her hand is stopping the man from grabbing her hair but to no avail.

The three other men are facing me with their index fingers readily placed on the trigger of their long and shiny guns. 

"Leave the girl alone," I commanded them.

They looked at one another before bursting into boisterous laughter. The man who seems to be the leader talks while his shoulders are shaking and still laughing. 

"Who are you to tell us that huh!?"

"You little piece of shit! You wanna replace this useless woman?" The tall, thin, and hatchet-faced man says mockingly. 

"I will kill you all," I say in a low but audible voice. 

"We don't have time for you!" The other man says readying his gun. 

"Don't be so cruel," the other man stops his companion. "Why don't we give her an exciting game?" He winks his eyes at me with a devil's smile.

I pull my left hand out of my pocket and exercise my fingers. Their eyes amusingly nail on it as I do the small graceful movement. But not for long, because now I can feel my adorable and perfectly trimmed fingernails transforming into sharp claws. My lips curl into a devilish smile as I see the fright in their ugly faces. They all drop their jaws in awe. Including the girl who is still on the ground. Her teary eyes show panic. 

"Forgive me if this surprises you," I teasingly say. 

I raise my hand to the side, parallel to my shoulder, and pull out my right hand from my pocket. My sharp claws shine as the ray of sun strikes it. My eyes turn fiery. Like there is a fire in them. Well, that's no wonder, I came from the fire empire of Ehtrehto Edis. The Ignis Hella.

"Monster! You are a monster!"

Shout the man who has been readying to shoot me. He then, again, aim the weapon towards me but I am already in front of him touching his weapon with one hand before he can make a move. My other hand is on his neck, slightly strangling him. 

"Well, I think you're a bit slow."

I try provoking him. I tighten my grip and bend the gun until it breaks. 

"Oops, sorry. Your weapon is now useless." 

The man's eyes are widening in fear. My movements are so quick that he and the other men fail to react immediately. I abruptly snatch the wrecked gun and use it to hit the man's stomach making him bend in pain. Seeing this happen, the other four men start to react.

"Shoot her!" 

I hear the leader ordered his men. Their attention now is on me. So, the girl finds a way to hide between the big roots of the trees. The three other men start to shoot me but all their bullets miss to touch my skin as I quickly leap in all directions. A few moments later, I am already standing facing my back at them. Slowly, I turn my head sideward and softly chuckle. 

"Out of bullet?" I grin before facing them. These once aggressive men now look terrified. Their knees are shaking and fear is very much obvious in them. 

"Don't worry, I've changed my mind. I won't kill you now."

A faint light of hope twinkle in their eyes. They turn to see each other as if asking what's next to do.

"But you have to be my slaves." 

I give them a bargain. I think that is a better option for them. Anyway, killing humans is not my line. 

"Slave? Who are you fooling!?"

The man with red hair shout and run to attack me. I did not try to escape, instead, I accept his powerful blow on my face. It tilts my face to the side. I taste blood on my lips. I wipe it with the back of my palm and my fiery eyes filled with rage. 

"Then die," I coldly say.

The cornea of the eyes becomes narrow until it looks like a cat's eyes. I throw my right arms into the air with my claws ready to tear flesh. It lands on his face and a red warm liquid flushes out his torn flesh. 

"Ahhh! Fuck you witch!!!" He screams touching his wounded face with both hands.

The other men attack me simultaneously with kicks and punches but always miss. Not a single kick and punch from them landed my beautiful, soft skin. I kick one man in his abdomen making him vomit and throw a punch to the other two men in their faces. Considering my non-human strength, one kick and punch is enough for them to fall to the ground. Truth is, I can kill them with just a flip of my finger. But I won't. I still hope they would beg me for their lives. Maybe, I will just let them go away.

They almost faint yet they manage to crawl away. Without seeing their remorse, I know I can't make them leave just like that. I am afraid that this encounter with them might spread throughout the town. My tranquil life might be at risk and I won't allow that to happen. So, even if I don't want to. I need to kill these assholes.

I open my palms and my claws shine like a sharp blade. I forcibly scratch the chest of the first man in my way and fresh blood gushes out of his body. I did the same to the other men. Blood keeps on gushing out with every contact of my claws to their bodies. Their screams are like curses to me. The smell of blood mixes up with the cold air. I was all bloody when I stop. My white tank and blue denim pants are filled with blood. My chest is panting not because of tiredness but unintentional excitement. I can't understand myself sometimes. I get monstrous sometimes and I hate to admit it.

I use my ability to teleport and now I stand in front of the shaking girl. Now that I stand face to face with her, I realized that she's no longer a girl but a woman. She seems so confused and unable to move. My claws are now going back to my normal form as well as my eyes. I swallow my saliva to moisten my drying throat. 

"Don't be scared of me. I won't hurt you." I say with assurance.

She slowly tries to stand up but yells in pain with her right leg. She fell back to the damp ground. 

"I…Uhmm, can I touch you?" I ask. 

She reluctantly nods. I walk the small space between us and carefully place my arms under her thighs and back. I carry her in my arms and as soon as I move my leg forward, the girl asks me.

"H-How about them?" Pointing to the dead men. Her voice is trembling.

"The wild animals will eat them," I answer her emotionlessly and continue with my pace. 

She remains quiet 'til we reach home.